Old Christmas Recalled - online book

Washington Irving's description of Old Christmas, Illustrated

	CHRISTMAS	5
	connections, and drawing closer again those bands of kindred hearts which the cares and pleasures and sorrows of the world are continually operating to cast loose; of calling back the children of a family who have launched forth in life, and wandered widely asunder, once more to assemble about the paternal hearth, that rallying-place of the affections, there to grow young and loving again among the endearing mementoes of childhood. There is something in the very season of the year that gives a charm to the festivity of Christ­mas. At other times we derive a great portion of our pleasures from the mere beauties of nature.